ZeroTrash® Revolution Blog Blog
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Fixing the broken recycling system: why Clear D...
The global recycling system is struggling to keep up with the waste we generate. Most soft plastics are not accepted curbside, and Soft Plastic Compactor solutions are needed to handle...
Fixing the broken recycling system: why Clear Drop® exists
The global recycling system is struggling to keep up with the waste we generate. Most soft plastics are not accepted curbside, and Soft Plastic Compactor solutions are needed to handle what traditional systems cannot. Organic waste in landfills releases harmful greenhouse gases. Clear Drop® exists to solve this gap – preparing household waste for real recycling before it leaves the home. This approach, called pre-recycling, enables every household to make measurable impact toward a ZeroTrash future. From the Soft Plastic Compactor and Organics Collector to new inventions in development, Clear Drop’s mission is simple: to fill the gap between home waste collection and the recycling industry. Clear Drop aims to create a practical and truly impactful pre-recycling system, one that ensures materials are properly prepared for final recycling and 100% recycled with our partners. We created Clear Drop to fill the gap between home waste collection and the recycling industry with an ultimate ZeroTrash goal. We believe that real environmental change starts not with complicated recycling systems, but with smart, seamless solutions. Pre-recycling concept Pre-recycling bridges the gap between how waste is generated and how recycling actually works. Instead of relying on facilities to separate and rescue recyclable materials, Clear Drop® enables households to pre-process waste at the source. Soft plastics are compacted into density-enhanced blocks for efficient transportation and real downstream recycling. Organic waste is collected and stabilized without odors while retaining its compost properties through the Organics Collector. Together, these devices turn two of the most problematic waste streams into materials that recycling infrastructure can finally work with. Pre-recycling is not a replacement for recycling – it is what makes recycling possible. How Clear Drop® Solves What Recycling Can’t Soft plastics are prepared for real recycling instead of going to landfill. Organics are stored without smell or mess and stay compost-ready. Households produce less trash and need fewer collection pickups. Trucking emissions are reduced because volume is minimized at home. More material stays in the circular economy and out of nature. Clear Drop team Founder and CEO Ivan Arbouzov brings 34 years of experience in the hardware industry. Over his career, he has launched several ventures, including a media company, multiple product development businesses, and most notably, a multinational optics and electronics company that became a global leader and an industry standard in its niche. Ivan has been an inventor since childhood, always driven to create innovative solutions. With Clear Drop, he envisions a future where recycling begins at home, enabling households to pre-process waste in a way that benefits the entire system. This vision underpins Clear Drop’s mission to revolutionize soft plastic recycling and organic waste management for a cleaner, greener future. Plastic, especially soft plastic, is almost invisible in how ordinary it is. And yet, it's almost impossible to recycle. We unwrap something and immediately discard what’s left, often into a system that’s not ready to deal with it. “I wanted to work on something that truly mattered. Something that could help shift how we treat the world around us. That’s why I built one of our products, the Soft Plastic Compactor. Not just as a tool, but as a way to catch the problem at the moment it starts, right when waste is created. I reinvested what I earned from past ventures because I believe it needs to exist. I believe we can do better, not through greenwashing or gimmicks, but with real, practical tools that help people take action at home, right when something becomes waste,“ shares Ivan. That’s what the Soft Plastic Compactor and Organics Collector are for. It’s not just a machine. It’s a small shift in how we deal with what we throw away, and a step toward a better system. How the pre-recycling concept started Clear Drop® began developing pre-recycling technology five years ago, combining engineering, chemistry, and industrial design expertise into a new category of home appliances. The first Soft Plastic Compactor prototype debuted at CES 2021, gaining strong validation from industry leaders. Today, Clear Drop® continues to collaborate with recycling facilities, municipalities, and sustainability organizations to build a closed-loop ecosystem – one that guarantees recycling when materials are properly pre-processed. We have initiated collaborations with numerous projects, recycling facilities, industry stakeholders, and local authorities to create a more sustainable waste management ecosystem and to take responsibility for closing the loop with waste collected and compacted with our devices. Clear Drop envisions a future where households actively participate in waste pre-processing at the source. Backed by industry leaders Global recycling experts advise Clear Drop® to ensure our solutions align with real-world processing requirements. David Nix – former sustainability lead for global plastics producers, now guiding scalable soft-plastic recovery partnerships. Robert Render – pioneer of closed-loop industrial recycling programs with more than 200 successful initiatives. Their leadership ensures that Clear Drop® products are not “nice to have” gadgets – but critical infrastructure solutions for the future of circular waste systems. Call to Action: Explore Clear Drop® Devices Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) – https://onecleardrop.com/products/soft-plastic-compactor-spc Organics Collector (OC) – https://onecleardrop.com/products/organics-collector Our long-term goal is simple: to shift how waste is handled at the point of generation in any form, starting with flexible plastics and organic waste. By working with partners across recycling, policy, and technology, we’re laying the foundation for scalable, lasting solutions to one of the world’s most urgent problems.
Getting started with soft plastic waste collect...
Flexible packaging makes everyday life easier, but most soft plastics still end up in landfills because they are not accepted in curbside recycling. With the rise of new recycling technologies,...
Getting started with soft plastic waste collection at home
Flexible packaging makes everyday life easier, but most soft plastics still end up in landfills because they are not accepted in curbside recycling. With the rise of new recycling technologies, the first and most important step begins at home. Clear Drop’s Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) allows households to store and prepare soft plastics for actual recycling — without mess, smell, or excess storage needs. The complexities of soft plastic recycling Soft plastics are among the most difficult household materials to recycle. Their lightweight and flexible structure leads to technical challenges during sorting and processing, which is why less than 5% of soft plastics in the U.S. are successfully recycled. When sent to landfill, they contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, soil and water pollution, and long-term environmental harm. Transporting loose soft plastics to recycling points is also highly inefficient: more volume means more fuel and higher emissions. New circular solutions help bridge this gap — but they rely on proper preparation at home. Why is circularity important? The circular economy keeps materials in use longer — reducing demand for new resources, lowering emissions, and strengthening supply chain resilience. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, improving circularity in key industries could cut global CO₂ emissions by 9.3 billion tons by 2050. Circularity also supports economic and social progress by creating new jobs and reducing the environmental burden on vulnerable communities located near landfills and waste-processing facilities. How to start recycling soft plastics at home with the SPC? Here’s a simple step-by-step approach to make soft plastic recycling easy and consistent using the SPC: Identify soft plastics in your home Most soft plastics can be identified by crumpling them — if they ball up easily, the SPC will accept them. Suitable materials include HDPE (#2), LDPE (#4), and PP (#5), such as: Food wrappers Plastic shopping bags Bubble wrap and shipping film Cling and stretch wrap Zip-lock and freezer bags Avoid PVC (#3) and PS (#6), as well as organics, glass, metal, and paper — these should go into other existing recycling or waste systems. Clean and dry all plastic before storage Before placing soft plastics into the SPC, ensure they are clean and dry to maintain efficiency and support high-quality recycling. Store soft plastics efficiently The SPC compacts soft plastics into dense, shape-preserving blocks measuring 12×8×4 inches — up to 10× less volume than loose bags. Simply feed the plastic through the automated collector window daily. Most households produce approximately one block per month depending on usage. Recycle with Clear Drop The SPC is part of a full circular solution. Compacted blocks are easier to collect, transport, and recycle — and enter Clear Drop’s partner network for true downstream recycling. These blocks can be transformed into new durable products such as pallets, benches, landscaping materials, and decking. Create a recycling habit Make soft plastic recycling part of your family’s daily routine. Place the SPC where it’s easy to access, explain the process to household members, and normalize sustainability through consistent small actions. Ready to start your circular recycling journey at home? Explore the Soft Plastic Compactor Learn how Clear Drop supports recycling beyond your home
Clear Drop: how we’re revolutionizing home wast...
Most household waste still ends up in landfills, not because people do not want to recycle, but because recycling systems are not designed for everything we throw away. Clear Drop...
Clear Drop: how we’re revolutionizing home waste management
Most household waste still ends up in landfills, not because people do not want to recycle, but because recycling systems are not designed for everything we throw away. Clear Drop enables a new way of managing soft plastic and organic waste right at home, making recycling easier, cleaner, and more efficient. Our goal is simple: remove the burden from households while ensuring that what leaves your home is actually processed, not discarded. Why Clear Drop? Clear Drop is a symbol of the neutral impact of humankind on nature. It is a metaphor for what remains after human consumption. Every day we as humans consume food and buy many products in packaging. It results in waste – plastic packaging, empty bottles, paper, glass, cans, organic waste etc. While only a marginal part of that is truly recycled, the footprint of human consumption is very high. The goal of Clear Drop is to reduce this footprint to a single clear drop. A new concept of pre-recycling Pre-recycling means optimizing waste at the source. Instead of hoping the recycling system will sort it out later, Clear Drop appliances prepare waste correctly right at home. It reduces volume, prevents contamination, and ensures soft plastics and food waste enter the proper recycling streams. The result: less landfill waste, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and a straightforward approach households can stick to every day. Pre-recycling is the approach that meets current challenges where the recycling system can’t deal with all types of waste we generate. Pre-recycling means preparing waste for its further efficient recycling before it is dropped into the recycling bin. Currently, some materials tackled by Clear Drop’s home appliances are literally not recycled as soft plastic, not being collected conveniently enough. The regular recycling process is often ineffective: trucks “transporting air”, and labor-intensive separation – together they consume a lot of energy, resources and create pollution of their own. With pre-recycling, discarded items are conveniently separated and prepared for recycling on the spot, facilitating waste reduction. Further on, the material is prepared for storing at home and further delivery to the recycling facilities of our partners. It is cleaner, denser, more convenient for transporting and all-around more manageable for further processing. Moreover, we guarantee recycling. The actual problems we address Challenging soft plastic waste An estimated five trillion plastic bags are used annually worldwide, not including numbers of film packaging and other types of soft plastic. Only 1% of households can recycle film at home today. Less than 10% of soft plastic is recycled, and the data is still not always being calculated and reported. Unlike some traditionally recyclable commodities, such as PET bottles or HDPE bottles, there is not very much publicly available information on the generation and composition of film and flexible packaging.Soft plastic is perceived as a barrier to the efficient process of recycling other types of plastic while being put together in a blue bin for recycling, as described in more detail in our overview of soft plastic recycling challenges. Soft plastics are lightweight, flexible and inexpensive to produce. This has made them popular choices for packaging. But this ignores the problems of disposal, including harm to nature and people when it ends up in landfills. Unless it’s compacted in a solid substance that changes the process of processing, soft plastics can get tangled or stuck in machinery at recycling or waste-processing facilities, causing inefficiencies and disruptions in the process. Clear Drop solution: compacting soft plastic waste Clear Drop offers the first step in solving this problem – business and home appliances that can prepare soft plastic waste for further transportation and actual recycling. Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) significantly simplifies the soft plastic collection and transforms fluffy packaging into a shape-preserving 12 × 8 × 4-inch block. It happens with the help of a patented plastic surface-softening technology to keep soft plastic compacted for storage and transportation that is safe for users and the environment. SPC accepts all major types of soft plastic packaging (excluding PVC and PS which are dangerous by nature) like food wrappers, soft plastic containers, shopping bags, cling film, and other types of packaging from your purchases.The device stores around one month of soft plastic waste and provides low energy consumption. The soft plastic prepared by the SPC is easy to pick up and transport, making it more manageable than any other option. The soft plastic block can be mailed to Clear Drop. We offer end-2-end service in collaboration with our recycling partners which adds more possibilities to soft plastic waste reduction in landfills. Make Soft Plastic Recycling Easier Turn bulky packaging into compact, ready-to-recycle blocks using the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC). It simplifies storage, improves recycling efficiency, and guarantees that soft plastics will not go to landfill. Learn more about Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) How to Manage Soft Plastics at Home Soft plastics are everywhere in the home – from delivery mailers and snack packaging to produce bags and wrapping film. To make sure they are handled properly and stay out of landfills: Keep soft plastics separate from bottles and other recyclables. Ensure packaging is empty and reasonably clean. Compact them to reduce storage space and prevent tangling at facilities. Send compacted blocks via Clear Drop’s mail-in service for guaranteed recycling. This empowers households to contribute to a cleaner plastic supply chain with minimal effort. Dealing with the consequences of organic waste Organic waste is just as harmful to the environment as plastic if it ends up in landfills instead of being composted. When compostable materials, like food scraps and yard waste, are thrown in with regular trash, they end up in landfills. These materials could have been repurposed into nutrient-rich compost to enrich the soil and contribute to waste reducion, but instead, they take up valuable landfill space and contribute to 11% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In landfills, organic waste decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen), producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane is approximately 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, contributing significantly to climate change. Organic waste in landfills contributes to the production of leachate – a toxic liquid that can seep into the ground, potentially contaminating soil and water sources. Composting not only recycles nutrients but also helps sequester carbon in the soil, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Without composting, this potential benefit is lost. Organics Collector: new technology to close the loop for organic waste To not let organic waste end up in a landfill, people don’t need to do composting by themselves to support waste reduction. Clear Drop makes collecting organic waste at home convenient, uninterrupted and without an unpleasant smell, leaks, dissolving organic bags, flies or the necessity to frequently empty the bin with one more home appliance – Organics Collector. Organics Collector (OC) stores and gradually accumulates food waste for several days up to one week. At the same time, the device helps to avoid the appearance of unpleasant odors and insects. Featuring non-energy-intensive processes, the OC consumes very little energy. The unique combination of the O3 generator and filtration system makes sure unpleasant smell is eliminated. Additionally, while stored, the organics in OC undergo a dehumidification process, reducing their moisture content by 30–40%. This makes all OC-collected material easier to transport and pick up and preserves composting features of the material. Once the bin is full, the dried organics can be disposed of at a municipal waste collection point or go to your local or community compost pit. You can also learn more about why electric composters are not real composting and how solutions like OC keep organics suitable for professional composting. Collect Food Waste Without the Mess The Clear Drop Organics Collector helps you store organic waste for several days odor-free and leak-free, reducing landfill emissions and keeping nutrients available for composting. Discover Clear Drop® Organics Collector (OC) Clear Drop® Founder's Message “These are just the first two systems we’re bringing to market. The problem is massive, and Pre-recycling is still in its infancy. But many more solutions are coming. Our promise to the world is that everything processed by our appliances will be recycled — if disposed of properly. We wouldn’t do this if we couldn’t make a difference. Let’s work together to make our future look like a hopeful science fiction story — not the bleak dystopias we risk if we don’t change our approach to waste management.” – Ivan Arbouzov, Founder & CEO of Clear Drop® Frequently Asked Questions What is pre-recycling? Pre-recycling is the process of separating and preparing waste at home to ensure it can be recycled efficiently instead of ending up in a landfill. It’s a form of smarter home waste management that optimizes materials before they enter traditional recycling systems. Which types of plastic can Clear Drop SPC compact? Clear Drop SPC handles major types of soft plastic packaging such as food wrappers, shopping bags, produce bags, bubble wrap, and other flexible plastics, excluding PVC and PS. These are typically the soft plastics that are not recyclable curbside. Does Organics Collector make compost? No. The Organics Collector (OC) does not make finished compost. It preserves essential organic matter by partially drying food scraps and controlling odors, ensuring they remain suitable for industrial or community composting. How does Clear Drop ensure recycling actually happens? Through partnerships with specialized recycling facilities and a mail-in system, Clear Drop guarantees that soft plastics processed by SPC are recycled responsibly, rather than being sent to landfill. Together with OC, these pre-recycling solutions turn home waste management into a reliable path to real recycling.
Why business recycling matters: a key to corpor...
Corporate sustainability is now a critical business priority. Both employees and customers expect companies to take action on waste reduction and environmental responsibility. While many focus on carbon reduction, improving...
Why business recycling matters: a key to corporate sustainability
Corporate sustainability is now a critical business priority. Both employees and customers expect companies to take action on waste reduction and environmental responsibility. While many focus on carbon reduction, improving business recycling – especially handling soft plastics that are not recyclable curbside – is essential for achieving measurable sustainability results and supporting long-term ESG goals. Corporate sustainability has become a major component of any company’s ESG (environmental, social, and governance) program and has become a fundamental aspect of their overall business strategy. Corporate sustainability influences the hiring process, partnership deals, and company image. Business recycling has emerged as a crucial element, helping companies reduce waste, minimize their environmental impact, and align with ESG principles. This is not only true for large corporations with formal corporate sustainability programs, but also for small to medium size companies looking to minimize their environmental footprint and align more closely with customer and employee expectations. How sustainability strengthens employer brand and customer loyalty Business sustainability practices are an essential part of corporate culture and necessary to attract top talent. A recent study by PwC revealed that "68% of job candidates say that environmental practices are important in choosing an employer". Employees want their companies to invest in sustainability efforts, including reducing carbon, using renewable energy, and reducing waste with soft plastic recycling technology. Moreover, a Deloitte study found that most employees believe their companies should contribute more to addressing climate change and sustainability. Two-thirds of employees globally report that they do not think their employers are doing enough to address climate change and don’t have enough business sustainability practices. In addition, more and more consumers expect companies to be more active in sustainability efforts. Forbes reports that "87% of consumers have a more positive image of a company that supports social or environmental issues". Consumer behavior also shows a trend in sustainable purchases and willingness to pay more for sustainable products. According to Nielsen, "55% of consumers are willing to pay more for products and services provided by companies that are committed to a positive social and environmental impact". And about half of respondents (47%) in a Deloitte survey, Sustainable Consumption Trends, said they had purchased a sustainable good in the last four weeks. Business recycling as a core pillar of ESG responsibility As companies strive to meet ESG goals and reduce their environmental footprint, business recycling and waste stream management programs, including how they handle business soft plastic waste, are becoming essential. According to EPA data, 75% of the American waste stream is recyclable, but only about 30% of it is recycled. While businesses produce about 25% of all the world’s waste every year, business recycling rates tend to be lower than residential. The challenge of rising plastic and soft plastic waste More than 95% of plastics generated are put in a landfill or incinerated for energy. The EPA also revealed that while plastic recycling is on the decline, the per capita generation of plastic waste increased by 263% since 1980. And what about soft plastic – or film plastic? McKinsey reports recycling rates well below 10 percent, although plastic film recycling is not widely tracked and reported. Soft plastic tends to reduce the efficiency of recycling other types of plastic, since it disrupts the sorting process when it is co-mingled with plastic bottles and other semi-rigid plastics. Soft plastics in particular disrupt sorting operations and require a separate solution like a compacting device that prepares them for proper recycling. Business recycling programs Businesses across various industries have implemented waste management programs that not only mitigate waste generation but also promote recycling, reusing materials, and fostering circular economy principles. Corporate: many companies, such as Apple, have set ambitious landfill diversion goals. Apple has committed to becoming carbon neutral for corporate operations and aspires to divert over 74% of its waste from landfills through their business recycling and reuse programs. Healthcare: University of Michigan (U-M) Health has completed a plastics recycling program at Mott Children’s hospital and the Von Voigtlander Women’s hospital. Operating room plastic was collected over a 6-month period and U-M was able to divert 2.64 tons of plastic from landfills. The program is now permanent and will be expanding. Higher Education: Virginia Tech, University of Richmond and Arizona State University are three examples of the many colleges focused on collecting and recycling soft plastic waste. Examples of film and soft plastics collected: air pillows, bread bags, bubble wrap, produce bags and shrink wrap. How to set up waste recycling programs for your business Setting up a comprehensive recycling program involves several key steps: 1. Conduct a waste audit: Check the types and quantities of waste that your company produces. This will provide a better understanding of these waste streams and the resources needed to better address them. 2. Separate recyclables: collect each type of waste separately including plastics, organics, glass, metal, cardboard and paper, and electronics. 3. Educate employees: Employee engagement is crucial. Create recycling educational programs to raise awareness and communicate how they can and should recycle at their workplace. Create easy access to recycling bins as well as simple instructions on what is recyclable and where it should be placed. 4. Set clear goals: Set specific goals for waste recycling, such as diverting 50% of your waste from landfills. Track your progress and share with your team regularly to ensure you’re moving forward with your targets.5. Collaborate with certified recycling facilities: Negotiate with local recycling centers that are certified to process specific types of waste. Ensure that they are capable of recycling the materials you are collecting. 6. Invest in technology: For some companies, the complexities of recycling in the workplace may limit employee participation. Leverage online and app-based training tools to educate employees. Further, emerging innovative technologies are also enabling a shift towards a more convenient and circular approach in recycling programs. How to improve soft plastic recycling in the workplace Soft plastics such as film wrap, delivery packaging, and snack bags make up a significant portion of office waste, yet they are not recyclable curbside. To improve recovery rates in a business environment: Collect soft plastics separately from other recyclables. Keep them clean and dry. Compact them to reduce bulk and avoid landfill overflow. Partner with recycling services capable of processing soft plastics. This structured approach improves recycling efficiency and reduces the environmental footprint of business operations. Smart solutions for efficient plastic waste management A new, innovative solution is now available that can help bolster your business recycling program by making your soft plastic waste collection more efficient and preparing it to be recycled more easily. One highly effective approach is using the Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) to compress bags, films, and packaging into dense bricks. This prevents contamination, reduces storage needs, and prepares materials for recycling rather than landfill disposal. The SPC transforms fluffy plastic packaging into a space-saving 12×8×4-inch block. The plastic brick is then processed at a dedicated recycling facility, using environmentally safe methods to give your plastics a second life and ensure the efficiency of your recycling programs. As businesses continue to implement sustainable practices like comprehensive recycling and waste management programs, the focus on diverting plastic and other waste from landfills becomes increasingly important. Through innovative technologies, employee engagement, and organized programs, companies can reduce waste, meet landfill diversion goals, and enhance their corporate sustainability efforts. Empower Your Business Recycling Program Make soft plastic waste easier to collect, store, and recycle. The Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) transforms bulky packaging into compact 12×8×4-inch blocks ready for recycling. Learn more: Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) Savvy companies are recycling more; because customers expect it and employees want to be part of it. Frequently Asked Questions Why is soft plastic challenging for business recycling programs? It cannot be recycled curbside and causes jams in sorting equipment, which reduces overall recycling efficiency. Can businesses recycle soft plastics separately? Yes, companies can collect soft plastics separately and use compacting solutions to make storage and transportation more efficient. How does a soft plastic compactor support sustainability goals? It reduces waste volume, prevents contamination, and helps companies increase landfill diversion rates while improving ESG performance. What can recycled soft plastics become? They are used to create long-lasting products such as pallets, decking materials, durable packaging, and outdoor furniture.
Tackling plastic in the healthcare industry: ch...
U.S. healthcare produces more than 5 million tons of waste every year, and plastics account for a significant portion of it. While safety and sterility require single-use items, much of...
Tackling plastic in the healthcare industry: challenges and solutions
U.S. healthcare produces more than 5 million tons of waste every year, and plastics account for a significant portion of it. While safety and sterility require single-use items, much of this plastic is still recyclable. This guide breaks down the main challenges and proven solutions that help hospitals improve soft plastic recycling and reduce operational waste. We also highlight technologies such as soft plastic compactors that make recycling more efficient in clinical settings. 5 million tons of plastic waste is generated in US healthcare annually The healthcare industry, while vital to human well-being, is a significant contributor to plastic waste. From single-use syringes and IV bags, to sterile packaging, PPE, food packaging, regular business operations, and more, the sector relies heavily on plastic materials to ensure hygiene, patient safety, efficiency and convenience. However, this reliance generates vast quantities of plastic waste – much of it non-recyclable due to contamination or mixed materials. According to a report by Healthcare Without Harm, hospitals in the U.S. produce over 5 million tons of waste annually, with plastics making up a substantial portion. To put it in perspective, 5 million tons is the equivalent of nearly 3 million midsize cars! Given the environmental urgency, healthcare sustainability professionals are increasingly seeking ways to reduce plastic use and improve recycling within their facilities. Here are six practical solutions that can make a meaningful impact: 1. Conduct a plastic waste audit A comprehensive plastic waste audit allows healthcare facilities to understand the types and volumes of plastics being used and discarded. By identifying high-waste areas, sustainability teams can target specific processes or departments for improvement. For example, operating rooms are known hotspots for single-use plastics and can benefit from focused interventions. However, we must remember that plastic plays a critical role in modern healthcare, offering numerous benefits like improved sterility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. So it’s important to not instantly demonize plastic, but instead examine how its use can be reduced or how recycling the material can be improved. A good audit will provide insight into opportunities for any healthcare facility. 2. Switch to reusable medical supplies where safe Many plastic products in healthcare are single-use for safety reasons, but some items can be safely replaced with reusable alternatives. Surgical instruments, gowns, and certain types of trays can be sterilized and reused. Hospitals should evaluate which plastic items could be replaced with reusable versions without compromising safety or compliance. 3. Implement recycling programs for clean plastics While contaminated plastics are difficult to recycle, clean plastics—such as packaging from sterile instruments—can often be recycled. Establishing a system where staff can easily separate clean from contaminated plastics encourages recycling. Partnering with specialized recycling companies can also open new avenues for processing healthcare-specific plastics. “As a research institute conducting studies on the impact of microplastics on human health, we analyzed how much non-contaminated plastic waste we were producing ourselves,” said Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director and Lead Research Scientist at the Shaw Institute in Blue Hill, Maine. “We couldn’t ignore the irony and decided to take action by evaluating how we can reduce that waste and also better ensure that as much of it is recycled as possible. We’re now working with suppliers that offer lower or plastic-free packaging, but we are also soon beginning a pilot program with Clear Drop to test their Soft Plastic Compactor device, which reduces the volume of the waste by about 90% – making it much easier for us to manage and also for recyclers to collect and process for re-use.” How Healthcare Facilities Can Improve Soft Plastic Recycling Track and separate clean vs. contaminated plastics during disposal workflows. Install dedicated bins for sterilized packaging and other clean soft plastics. Compact soft plastics to reduce storage volume by up to 90% for easier collection and pickup. Partner with specialized recycling companies that accept medical-grade plastics. Empower clinical staff through sustainability education and clear visual guidance. Many hospitals are piloting compacting technologies to improve recycling logistics. A soft plastic compactor helps keep recyclables out of biohazard waste streams and significantly reduces hauling frequency. Make Soft Plastic Recycling Easier in Healthcare Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) reduces the volume of non-contaminated plastic waste by up to 90% and prepares it for responsible recycling. See how hospitals are integrating it into sustainability initiatives. 4. Source bioplastics and eco-friendly alternatives The market for biodegradable and compostable medical products is growing. Items such as bioplastic syringes, eco-friendly bedpans, and compostable packaging can replace traditional plastic counterparts. Healthcare procurement teams can prioritize suppliers who offer sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. 5. Staff training and engagement Sustainability initiatives succeed when staff across all levels understand their role in reducing plastic waste. Regular training sessions, visual aids near disposal areas, and recognition programs for sustainable practices help create a culture of environmental responsibility. Engaged staff are more likely to follow recycling protocols and suggest improvements. 6. Work with manufacturers for sustainable product design Healthcare institutions can leverage their purchasing power to influence manufacturers toward more sustainable designs. This includes advocating for products with minimal or recyclable packaging, modular designs that reduce material use, or take-back programs where manufacturers reclaim used products for recycling. “There’s no single solution to solving the problems that are related to plastic waste,” said Ivan Abrouzov, President and CEO of Clear Drop, Inc. “Whether it’s within healthcare or other industries, many factors have caused the issues we face, especially when it comes to recycling. It will only be through multiple solutions that we can begin to reduce waste, improve recycling and create what we like to refer to as a ZeroTrash® Lifestyle. Our technology and products are a step toward making that a reality. Whether it’s with our products or not, I encourage everybody to be part of the solution.” Reducing plastic waste in healthcare is not without its challenges – safety, regulatory compliance, and cost all play a role in shaping what’s possible. However, by adopting targeted strategies and fostering innovation, the industry can significantly reduce its plastic footprint. Collaboration between healthcare providers, manufacturers, and sustainability experts is essential for developing scalable, practical solutions that protect both human health and the environment. Make Soft Plastic Recycling Easier in Healthcare Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) helps hospitals and research facilities keep clean plastics out of biohazard streams, cut storage volume, and prepare soft plastics for responsible recycling. Learn more about SPC for healthcare settings. Frequently Asked Questions Can hospitals recycle soft plastics like sterile packaging? Yes. Clean and non-contaminated packaging such as plastic film and wrap can be recycled if it is separated from biohazard waste and routed into dedicated recycling streams. How does a soft plastic compactor help? It reduces the volume of plastic waste, making it easier to collect, store, and send to recyclers without increasing operational burden on clinical staff or facilities teams. Do compaction solutions meet healthcare safety requirements? Yes. Compaction is used only for clean, non-contaminated plastics and is designed to support existing compliance, infection control, and sterilization workflows. What types of plastics are difficult to recycle? Mixed-material products, contaminated PPE, and medical-grade plastics exposed to bodily fluids cannot enter recycling streams and must be disposed of as regulated medical or biohazard waste.
